Article: Coming Soon: Jose Berrios

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Yep, they waited a couple days to send him down. Nothing about the timing of this makes sense to me unless they planned on calling up Berrios. They must have known they were going to need an extra starter this week. 

MLB.com has the transaction listed at 1:40am on 8/7. I figure that means it actually occurred on 8/6 because we all know JR already had his milk and cookies and is snuggled into bed by 1:40am (mostly joking).

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/news/#player_id=608648

[Otto von Ballpark]

They've said he's going to stay in the bullpen the rest of this year and will start again next season.

If May stays in the pen the rest of 2015, and his pen usage is consistent with the last couple weeks, he will finish with around 120 IP total for the year. This after 144 IP in 2014, and a pro high of 165.

 

Are we going to hear next year about how we have to control *his* innings? Or look for him tiring down the stretch in 2016? May in the pen is a win now move for 2015, but I wish we were prepared to move him back yet this year once "win now" is no longer a concern.

[tobi0040]

 

I wish we were prepared to move him back yet this year once "win now" is no longer a concern.

 

Since we are in wish mode, I wish we would have signed an actual good reliever or two this off-season instead of say Stauffer.  Then we would not have had to move May in the first place.

 

For those counting at home.  Instead of paying $4M on a reliever, we spend $2.25M on Stauffer.  That $1.75M cost us a 6.60 ERA out of the pen and when it is all said and done, about 15 starts for May.

Edited August 12, 2015 by tobi0040

[diehardtwinsfan]

May has never gone more than 2 IP since moving to the pen. The last time he went more than 1 inning was July 22nd. That ship has sailed for 2015, I think.

 

Btw, he hasn't been scored on since that last 2 inning outing, his WHIP is down as a reliever over starter by more than .1, and his K/BB has doubled. He's been 96 or better every outing.

 

I would give serious consideration to letting him stay in the pen.

My bad on the innings. I thought he pitched a bunch in one of those blow outs... Anyways, sorry, but I'll disagree on the conclusion. He's got top of the rotation potential. I could see him staying in the pen for the rest of the year (personally disagree, but whatever), but I think going back to a starter, especially with some experience in the pen is beneficial for both him and the team long term. Now if you don't see improvement over the next season or so, I think the pen might be the right answer.

[Loosey]

The Twins could have a very nice young core of starting pitchers should Berrios continue his ascension at the MLB level in 2015-2016.  If he does, Berrios could become that true #1 starter the Twins have lacked since Johan. They have 2 borderline #2 guys in May and Gibson when they are both pitching to their potential.  Then the rotation is rounded out by two solid veterans in Hughes and Santana. 

 

This offseason the Twins can actually go spend money on other areas of need instead of starting pitchers like they have the last two offseason.  Perhaps another middle of the order bat??

Edited August 12, 2015 by Loosey

[jimbo92107]

 

Totally agree. Hard to believe he's only 21 when watching him. Outstanding mound presence, doesn't seem to get rattled, holds runners with the best of them. FO needs to see what they have with Pelfrey gone next year. They were probably smart not having him start in Toronto against that line up. I'd bring him up and finish the year with the Twins.

Agreed, but like others I'm a little leery of his innings. TR said he doesn't have Jose Barrios on a specific innings count, but I'm sure they'll be keeping a close eye on him.

 

I like that Berrios already has the makings of a complete pitcher. His delivery is deceptive, he varies speeds on his pitches, and he's even good at picking off runners.

 

Question: Did the Twins really "develop" this kid, or were they just really perceptive/lucky to find him? It sounds like Berrios had the fiery ambition right from the start. Maybe that's a factor the scouts should be looking for.

[twinssouth]

Great question, Twins have a Puerto Rico scout, I think he also covers South Florida but not sure. Berrios was well known with MLB, as the Yankees were all over him. This is one of the few times I credit the Twins in drafting. Berrios had a 95 FB and good curve coming out of high school but his determination has gotten him this far. I was hoping the Twins would take McCullers from Tampa but darn if the Astros got him so then I hoped they take Berrios and about fell off my chair when Twins picked him.

[Dantes929]

 

Since we are in wish mode, I wish we would have signed an actual good reliever or two this off-season instead of say Stauffer.  Then we would not have had to move May in the first place.

 

For those counting at home.  Instead of paying $4M on a reliever, we spend $2.25M on Stauffer.  That $1.75M cost us a 6.60 ERA out of the pen and when it is all said and done, about 15 starts for May.

I am ok with the conclusion but the premise is not correct as I understand it.    Twins did not move May to the pen out of need to bolster the pen but to open a spot for Santana.    This is supported by the fact that he hasn't really been used as a guy that was moved to bolster the pen.   He has been used as a guy that they are not sure what to do with.    If the staff comes around and we are in more close games and May becomes the 8th inning guy  at least we would get some value out of our pitcher with the best combination of stuff and control though I would prefer he be our 7th and 8th inning guy. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I am ok with the conclusion but the premise is not correct as I understand it.    Twins did not move May to the pen out of need to bolster the pen but to open a spot for Santana.    This is supported by the fact that he hasn't really been used as a guy that was moved to bolster the pen.

I think it could have been for both reasons.  Initially they didn't use him as a leverage guy, but the past few weeks he has been in the mix for those appearances (although we've had so many blowout losses, those appearances are few and far between).

 

Might have still happened with a better pen, although it could have happened a little differently -- maybe they keep him stretched out better for return(s) to starting in 2015.

[tobi0040]

 

I am ok with the conclusion but the premise is not correct as I understand it.    Twins did not move May to the pen out of need to bolster the pen but to open a spot for Santana.    This is supported by the fact that he hasn't really been used as a guy that was moved to bolster the pen.   He has been used as a guy that they are not sure what to do with.    If the staff comes around and we are in more close games and May becomes the 8th inning guy  at least we would get some value out of our pitcher with the best combination of stuff and control though I would prefer he be our 7th and 8th inning guy. 

 

I think the bridge, 7-8th inning issues we were having had something to do with May going to the pen. 

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think the bridge, 7-8th inning issues we were having had something to do with May going to the pen. 

Agreed.  Hypothetically, if we had better set-up options, maybe we're more likely to move Pelfrey or Milone to a bullpen role, for non-setup work, rather than May.  (In fact, we did briefly plan to move Pelfrey to the pen this spring, when we presumably thought our set-up options would be better than they turned out to be.)

[Vanimal46]

Looks like we may be holding off on the Berrios call up for.... Michael Bowden????? WHO?